de Quincey Family - Genealogy

Christianity has been part of the genealogy of the Quincey Family for almost 1000 years or since prior to the Normans settling in England and Scotland. Although one can not determine exactly how long we have been Christians, we know it has been since Norman records began. One of the main contributions to the lineage of the Quincey tree is the Church record's especially those of St. Peters, Lilford sadly demolished in 1778. Generations of the Quincey Family have been associated in different ways with the Church including the writer who was for 14 years Church Warden at St. Laurences Chapel Chorlton in Staffordshire. During my many years of research it gave me great pleasure when I opened the 17th century register of St. Peters, Lilford and in the inside cover it was written Edmund Quincey Church Warden. It is finds similar to this that makes genealogy so rewarding. The following information is a chronology of generations of Quinceys and their Churches.

 

 

St. Athernase Church, Leuchars was built in 1183-1187 by Robert de Quincy Constable of Scotland, a Norman who had already built Fawside Castle. Image courtesy of www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk. 

 

The stunning decorated chancel and aspe are one of the finest examples of Norman work in Great Britain, they still look as they would have done 830 years ago except for the tower.

 

Winchester Cathedral. The title Earl of Winchester was first borne by Sir Saher de Quincy who was awarded the title by King John on 13th March 1207. Saher later fell out with the King over the Concession of England to the Pope. He was also one of the 25 Barons who persuaded King John to sign the Magna Carta in 1215 Sahers sons Roger and Robert succeeded the title until 1264. Saher died on the Crusades in Palestine 3rd Nov. 1219

 

 

St. Mary and St. Hardulph, Breedon on the Hill. Built in 1122 although had been a place of christian worship since 676 when an Anglo Saxon Monastry was established by the Mercian King Aethelred. The font bears the Coat of Arms of the de Quincy Family after William de Ferrers 5th Earl of Derby married Margaret de Quincy in 1238 daughter of Roger de Quincy. Their 2nd son William de Ferrers obtained by gift from his mother the manor of Groby, assuming the Arms of the de Quincey Family.

St. Peters, Lilford was demolished in 1778 the church register shows the earliest entry of the Quincy/Quincey family was in 1559 when it says Edmund Quincy was Christened, on the inside cover it states Edmund Quincy Church Warden. The register continues with over 180 entries of Birth, Marriages and Burials. Three Arches from the nave were rebuilt in the Lynch below Achurch.

 

 

St. John the Baptist Achurch was built in 1218 by Sir Asceline de Waterville a crusader knight as a thanksgiving for his safe return from the Holy Lands. The register shows baptisms of the Quincey Family from 1651 when Alice daughter of James and Alice Quincey was baptised. Achurch is also where Edmund Quincy left for America in 1628.

 

St. Mary Magdalene Geddington, the saxon nave dates back to 950, the north aisle was built in the 12th century. Samuel Quincey was ordained on the 8th October 1730 he was curate of St. Peters Aldwinkle 13th January 1737 and became vicar of St Mary Magdalene 13th January 1755. He died on the 27th August 1777 an is buried in the churchyard.

 

St. Andrew, Cotterstock built in the late 12th century and was restored and extended in 1876. Cotterstock was the birthplace of John Graves Simcoe the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada from 1791-1796 born February 25th 1752. In the photo you can see the gravestone of Thomas Quincey and Mary Quincey (nee Saunders) All of their children William 1792, Francis1794, John 1796, Elizabeth 1799, Ann 1802, Saunders 1804 and James 1810 were all baptised here.

 

St. Mary the Virgin, Titchmarsh, originally a 12th century Norman church but only the doorway in the chancel remains. The building assumed its present appearance in the late 15th century, the tower, clerestory and porch were added. There are several Quincey graves in the churchyard including John Quincey born in 1795 with his wife Elizabeth founded in 1836 the Clapton and Titchmarsh Benefit Club with 160 members. By 1862 it was able to have its own premises which are still used today as the village hall. In December 1923 Canon Lucock writes of "the winding up of the Benefit Club after a long and very useful career the state having taken over the responsibility of caring for the sick, needy, aged and unemployed". John Quincey died on 16th July 1885 aged 90 years, 50 years after the clubs beginning. John and his wife became Baptists and a small band of Baptists worshiped in the Quincey Meeting House in Church Street.

 

St. Laurence, Chapel Chorlton, sadly nothing remains of the original church of St Laurence. The nave was completely rebuilt in 1827 and the tower so drastically altered that neither the date of the original or the date of the restoration can be confidently estimated. The first Lord of the manor to be recorded was Walter de Cherleton in 1166.

 

The photo and the picture depicted are taken from where the writer once lived which once was a thrashing barn now restored to a house.The writer also had the honour of serving for 14 years as Church Warden and as Eucarist Minister also as representative on the Deanery Synod and Diocese Synod with thanks to three wise men the Rev. Dr. Martin Yould, Rev John Porter and Rev.Nigel Clemas (Dean of Eccleshall). I also enjoyed the pleasure of assisting at St. Peters, Maer at this church Charles Darwin and Emma Wedgwood were married in January 1839.

 

 

Josiah Wedgwood ll moved to Maer Hall seen in the background of the following photo in 1807, he went back to Etruria in 1812, returned and settled in Maer until his death on 13th July 1843.

 

The third church where I assisted was at St. Mary and All Saints, Whitmore, originally a Norman church, a wooden tablet records the names of rectors, the first being William 1175, the register commenced in 1538.

The Alter shows tiles and Mosaic work provided by Minton Hollins tile factory at the 1880 restoration.

 

Many thanks to Keith Rippin for allowing me to use his photographs.

you can contact Victor de Quincey by  email victor@thedequinceys.co.uk.